The Nebraska attorney general's office said Thursday it plans to challenge part of the law that prevents the state from executing 10 current death row inmates.

Attorneys plan to argue that the law violates the state constitution, which gives the Board of Pardons exclusive power to change final sentences.

Sen. Ernie Chambers, the new law's sponsor, says the measure makes clear that the Legislature isn't changing the sentences. He says the law merely removes the death penalty as a punishment, meaning the state has no legal way to carry out executions.

Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha says he is also considering a ballot initiative to reinstate capital punishment.